This page is a companion to Ships
to Australia 1844 and contains the longer shipping related news items
extracted from the Shipping Gazette, and arranged by date of publication.
Many thanks to Lina Moffitt for these contributions.

Volume 1, Number 23 - 24 August, 1844

THE BONIN ISLANDS
To the Editor of the United Service Gazette

Sir—Whilst the present discussions are pending with regard
to Tahiti, the Marquesas, and other Islands of the Pacific; may
I be permitted to draw your attention to a small, but valuable
(though little known) settlement, which happens to be the only
bona fide British possession in those seas. I allude to the Bonin,
or Arzobispo Islands, situated in lat. 27° 5’N and long.
142° 11’E.

About 8 years ago, while a midshipman on board Her Majesty’s
sloop Raleigh, I had the pleasure of visiting them, the Raleigh
having been dispatched from India for that express purpose; we
found residing on the largest island of the group about forty-five
men, women and children, the chief part of the men being British
subjects, and the two principal settlers old men-of-war’s
men; the women were all natives of the Sandwich Islands. The Island
of Bonin, in addition to other natural advantages, possesses a
large and secure harbour, with good holding ground for chain cables,
there being much coral. At the bottom of the harbour is a basin
called the “Hole”, where ships of large burden might
heave down to the rocks in case of necessity, in 10 or 12 fathoms
water. The anchorage is surrounded by hills, the streams descending
from which afford an abundant supply of good water. The sides of
the hills are thickly wooded and contain iron ores; a small quantity
of sandalwood is to be found. The Soil is extremely fertile and
produces musk and water melons, Indian corn, and sweet potatoes,
in as great perfection as any place I have ever been at. The island
also abounds in wild pigs, great numbers of which have been caught
and tamed by the inhabitants and, together with the salted turtle,
form their chief articles of trade with the whaling ships, a great
of number of which resort to this island to refit and supply themselves
with provisions, it being situated at no great distance from their
whaling ground (which in itself would render it a desirable possession
in time of war).

These vessels, however, cause at times considerable annoyance
to the settlers, by occasionally leaving some of the worst hands
behind them; during our stay they repeatedly complained of the
injury they sustained from this practice, and expressed an earnest
wish to have some Government authority on the island. This group
was first surveyed and taken possession of by Capt Beechey in Her
Majesty’s ship Blossom, on which occasion he nailed a sheet
of copper with an inscription engraved on it, to a tree. The inscription,
however, has since been removed to the doorway of the principal
settler’s house. During our stay in the Raleigh, Capt M Quin
erected a flag staff in front of the village on the starboard side
entering the harbour, on which occasion I had the honour of hoisting
the Union Jack. The houses are all built of wood, but well finished
and clean interiorally. All the settlers appeared to be comfortable
and well off, and had a considerable quantity of money in their
possession. Unfortunately they had no craft belonging to them except
canoes, a circumstance much to be regretted, as their inability
to procure supplies of tools &c had greatly retarded the improvement
of this little colony.

THE DREDGING MACHINE—An offer has been made by the owner
of the Corsair to tow the dredging machine to Newcastle free of
expense in order that she might be engaged in deepening the channel
thence to Morpeth. This would enable steamers to be engaged in
the Hunter River trade of a greater draft of water than those at
present running.

THE CUTTER “ELIZABETH”—The account of this vessel
being lost at Broulee was incorrect, as she arrived on Tuesday
with a full cargo of potatoes. The report originated from her having
touched the bar coming out when she carried away the pintal of
her rudder but sustained no further damage.

LOSS OF THE SCHOONER “ISABELLA”—The brig Dorset,
upon her arrival at Adelaide reported the following wreck, having
been boarded by some of the crew belonging to the vessel:-- “The
schooner Isabella, of Hobart Town, Hayes, master, was wrecked on
23rd June in a bay a little to the NW of Cape Buffon, in lat. 35° 37’ south,
long. 140° 12’ east, where she was lying whaling in company
with the Prince of Denmark of Hobart Town. The Isabella parted
from her cables during a heavy westerly gale and drove immediately
on shore. The Prince of Denmark also parted after the gale had
subsided, but was got underweigh and kept so until the sea went
down sufficiently to allow them to pick their anchors up. The Isabella
is a complete wreck, but the crew had saved everything moveable,
and were living on shore. They had mated with those of the Prince
of Denmark, but both vessels had only procured three fish, one
of which had yielded by their account sixteen tuns. They had seen
many whales, but the weather had been so boisterous they could
not capture them. They expected to leave for Hobart Town on or
about the 20th August. The natives on his unfrequented part of
the coast were very sociable, but much addicted to thieving.

WHALING NEWS—The Genii has suffered some loss in boats, and
Capt Long recently had his collar-bone fractured by a blow from
a whale. On the 26th June, a large whale was sighted, and three
boats were lowered. After a long chase, and just before sunset,
the whale was struck, but unfortunately it immediately stove the
boat from which the iron had been thrown. The crew were picked
up by one of the other boats, Captain Long pulled up and fastened,
but another stroke from the whale’s tail destroyed this boat
also. The third boat received the other two crews, and night having
come on, the whale was fastened to the boat which had been first
stove and a lantern fixed upon it. Unfortunately the whale was
lost, in consequence of the light being extinguished. On the 18th
July another whale was fastened to, and another boat destroyed;
and on this occasion occurred the accident above mentioned, namely,
the fracture of Captain Long’s collar-bone. Four of the crew
were also injured so much as to have confined them to their berths
ever since. We understand that the owners of the Genii have given
orders for her to come on to Sydney from Port Stephens to discharge
her cargo.

The Blundell will commence taking in her horses for Calcutta on
Monday next. She has also tendered to take on the remaining detachment
of the 80th regt.

ÆOLIAN SEA SIGNALS—Another method of applying the
waves of the sea has been recently contrived, which promises more
practical results than the propelling scheme. The object is to
make the breakers on a dangerous coast serve as their own warning
signals to sailors. The inventor proposes to have hollow buoys
moored near the dangerous coast or sand bank, to which buoys with
pipes, somewhat like organ pipes, are to be affixed. Tongues, on
the principle of accordions, are to be fitted to the pipes, so
that when the buoys are tossed up and down by the breakers the
air may be forced through and cause them to utter warning sounds,
which would become louder and louder as the sea raged more fiercely
and the danger increased.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CURING AND PACKING SALTED HIDES FROM
NEW SOUTH WALES—The hides as soon as they are
taken off should be well washed, and laid open in piles of about
40 hides for a few hours, for the water &c to drain from
them, then to be put into a strong bring for three days, and
afterwards to be rolled separately
up with hair inside, first sprinkling and rubbing in a few pounds
of good fine salt on each hide; each hide to be well tied up to
prevent the salt escaping. Salted hides from NSW are often much
injured, in consequence of being cut in flaying, and it is particularly
recommended that they should be carefully flayed—Culverwell
and Brook’s circular.

Volume 1, Number 24 - 31 August, 1844

THE “HARRIETT”, WHALER, OF LONDON—
Some time ago
we had some intelligence via Tahiti of an attack made by the natives
of one of the South Sea Islands on the above vessel, the result of
which was, that the crew were slaughtered and the vessel destroyed.
In the London Times of April 19 we find a full account of the massacre
as well as the means by which the particulars had been obtained,
which were furnished to that paper by Capt Harnmer of the whaling
barque Sussex, just then received. It appears that on the 30th April
1843 the Sussex, requiring water, touched at the Island of Quallan,
in long. 162° E, lat. 6°, better known amongst seamen as
Strong’s Island. There were at the time lying at anchor three
American and one Canadian whalers and from these Capt Harnmer received
information that the wreck of an English whaler, named the Harriett of London, was lying within the harbour in eight fathoms of water.
Portions of the log-book, and parts of the wreck had been recovered,
which established the identity of the wreck. More information was
obtained from the natives, and the consequence was that the wreck
was discovered burnt to the water’s edge.

No satisfactory account could be procured from the chiefs of the
island; but from the women, the following particulars were gleaned:
The Harriett had put into the island for wood and water and the
intercourse between her crew and the natives was apparently carried
on in the usual friendly manner. A deep plot, however, seems to
have been laid by the natives, which was at the same time wholly
unsuspected by Capt Bunker. One day, shortly after their arrival,
the captain and the surgeon went ashore shooting—two boats’ crews
being engaged collecting wood and one in taking in water. Out of
a crew of twenty-seven to thirty persons, only five remained on
board the ship and this fact doubtless being observed by the natives
who were anxiously watching an opportunity, they simultaneously
attacked the different parties, killing each almost instantaneously.
Resistance would appear to have been hopeless; for, although the
island is not more than 27 miles in circumference, it is very thickly
populated, and from 300 to 400 natives were frequently seem on
the shore at one time by Capt Rounds. The five persons who were
on board ship at the time observed the attack on their comrades
and, seeing a number of canoes putting off towards the vessel they
hastily embarked in a boat and have not since been heard of, the
probability being that, as Strong’s Island is situated at
a long distance from any other, they also must have perished in
the course of the few following days. In the course of Capt Round’s
investigations on the island, he fortunately discovered four or
five leaves of the Harriett’s log, from which it appeared
that the ship had recently been to Port Jackson for the purpose
of undergoing some repairs and the captain had made an entry to
the effect that he had had some trouble with his crew.

Finding all their endeavors fail to procure more information,
the several ships alluded to bore up and stood away from the island
together—parting company some days subsequently. The Harriett was the property of Messrs, Boulcott, of Paul’s-wharf, London.
She left England in June 1839 and has consequently been absent
nearly five years. No tidings had been heard of her during the
last 18 months and her owners had recently effected an additional
insurance of £1500, making a total of £7500. Many of
her crew left her at Sydney, whose places were supplied by others;
it is therefore impossible to give the names of those lost correctly.

SUBMARINE PLOUGH—A submarine plough, for removing sandbanks
in shallow waters, is said to have been constructed by Dr Eddy
of Cincinnati, somewhat on the principle of the Archimedean screw,
boring up the sand at one end, and passing it through the screw
to be discharged at the other extremity.—Chambers’s
Edinburgh Journal.

Volume 1, Number 27 - 21 September, 1844

TAHITI—
We were favoured a few days since
with a copy of the Journal de Tahiti, a French lithographed paper,
published hebdomadally at the French Government Lithographic Office
at Tahiti. This paper is clearly the organ of the French Government.
We give below a free translation of an article which appeared in
the Journal on Sunday 11th July.

“At the moment we had placed the first and fourth pages
of the Journal on the press, Her Britannic Majesty’s corvette
the Carysfort, commanded by Lord Paulet, presented herself before
the reefs which close the harbour of Papeite. The Carysfort, without
entering, saluted the flag of the Commandant, and the French frigate
Uranie returned the salute. At the same time the Governor received
a visit from Lord Paulet. This vessel has brought private letters
from France via Panama up to the 26th February but not a single
dispatch for the Governor, nor a single newspaper. The Governor,
however, has received a letter from the officer commanding of the
ships of HM Louis Philippe, stationed in the Southern Seas, which
states that a French paper received at Valparaiso contained the
intelligence that the whaler Elizabeth, which left Tahiti in the
first half of the month of November last, taking information to
His Majesty’s Government of the motives which had compelled
Admiral Du Petit Thouars to transform the Protectorate at Tahiti
into taking possession of the island had performed the voyage from
Papeite to Havre in 95 days. This same paper of the 29th February
stated that after the receipt of the dispatches, His Majesty had
declared that he would not accept the taking of possession, but
would adhere to the terms of the protectorate in every particular.
We repeat that the Governor has received no dispatch from the Government;
nevertheless, after reading the letter which had been written to
him from Valparaiso, he hastened to send the chief officer of his
staff on board the British ketch Basilisk, with a letter for Pomare,
in which he informed her of the state of affairs, and invited her
forthwith to land. This letter was translated to Pomare in presence
of the chief officers of the Governor’s staff, and of the
commanders of Her Britannic Majesty’s ships Carysfort and
Basilisk. Pomare replied, that she would not land at Tahiti and
that she should go to Borabora, and wait there the final settlement
of affairs. The course pursued by the Governor in this instance
is another proof of the good faith which has regulated all the
proceedings of the Government. Europe will soon know, on seeing
the official reports which have been sent home from Tahiti since
the month of November last, that nothing whatever has been done
here which it was not absolutely necessary to do.”

Volume 1, Number 28 - 28 September, 1844

CAST-IRON LIGHTHOUSE—
The attention of the curious for sometime
past has been directed to an immense iron building which has been
progressing under the auspices of its builders, Messrs Cottam and
Hallen, iron founders of the Cornwall-road, Lambeth. It is to be
a lighthouse made entirely of cast iron, one of the first that has
ever been constructed. It is composed of 130 iron plates, averaging
eight feet by six, and an inch and a quarter thick. These plates,
ten of which make a circumference, are connected together by wrought-iron
bolts, screws and sheet-iron the interstices being filled up with
cement. Its diameter at the base is 24 feet, gradually decreasing
to a width of 14 feet at the top, where is surmounted by a gallery
20 feet wide, which is encircled by iron railings four feet high.
In the center of this gallery is the lantern, surmounted by a cone
eight feet high, and which is also made of cast iron. Its total altitude
is 137 feet. The top of the building is gained by a staircase of
iron fixed to the sides. The structure is divided into 9 chambers,
the floors and ceilings of which are made of sheet iron fastened
to the sides, and to a cast iron pillar which goes to the top of
the building. It is lighted by windows 18 inches square, and glazed
with strong plate glass. Its total weight is about 300 tons. It is
to be fixed on one of the Bermuda islands, on a rock 250 feet high,
consequently its total height, from the sea to the top of the lantern
will be 387 feet.

________________________________

STATISTICS OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

Population and Extent—The Kingdom of Hawaii, or the Sandwich
Islands, consists of eight islands, of which the extent and population
will appear by the following table.

Miles in

Area in

Population

Length

Breadth

sq miles

in 1836

Hawaii

88

73

4000

39,364

Maai [Maui]

48

30

620

24,199

Lanai

17

19

100

1,200

Molokai

40

7

190

6,000

Kahoolawe

11

8

60

80

Oahu

46

25

530

27,809

Kauai

22

24

500

8,934

Niihau

20

7

90

993

6090

108,578

The population, contrary to that of most other countries, appears
to be on the decrease rather than the increase, and has continued
so from the time the island was first discovered up to the present
period, notwithstanding the many exertions that have of late been
made to check the evil. When Captain Cook visited the islands he
estimated the gross population at 400,000; but as he only arrived
at his estimate by the number of persons he saw at each of the
ports he visited, it is probable that it may have been somewhat
exaggerated. The census of 1823, however, showed a population of
142,050 and that of 1832 - 130,313, thus proving that the progress
of depopulation up to a recent period was still considerable; although
from the attention now directed by the Hawaiian Government to this
point some diminution of this rapid decrease may be effected.

CLIMATE—The port of Honolulu, which may be taken as furnishing
a sufficient test of the climate throughout the group is situated
in lat. 21° 18’ north, and long. 158° 1’ west
from Greenwich. It is salubrious in the first degree, and although
warm, the temperature is remarkably regular throughout the year—the
thermometer ranging almost at all times from 70° to 80°.
The prevailing winds are the trades, which blow more or less throughout
the whole year.

PRODUCTIONS—The islands are capable of producing arrowroot,
cotton, castor oil, coffee, silk, indigo, tobacco, turmeric, rice &c
to a considerable extent; but hitherto little capital has been
devoted to the cultivation of these articles. About 600 tons of
sugar and 80,000 gallons of molasses are produced yearly—chiefly
through the enterprising exertions of one American house—Messrs
Ladd and Co. The yearly produce of kukui, or paint-oil, is about
10,000 gallons. Cattle, hogs, horses, sheep and goats are abundant
and rapidly multiplying. Most of the necessaries of life are cheap
and good.

GOVERNMENT—The Government of the Sandwich Islands is a monarchy,
and the present sovereign is his Hawaiian Majesty Kamehameha III
by whom and in whose name all public business is transacted. The
legislative power is vested in the King and an assemblage of the
Chiefs, forming a species of Parliament. There are but few executive
officers, and the principal of them is Dr Judd, who is the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, and exercises in the Treasury and
other Financial departments. Each of the islands is provided with
a distinct Governor who is styled “His Excellency”;
and by a recent proclamation of the King (bearing date the 9th
March last) John Record, Esq, an attorney and counselor of the
Supreme Court of the United States of America has been appointed
the Attorney-General of the Hawaiian Islands.

LAWS—The rules and regulations most important to be known
by a stranger are, first: that the captain, supercargo, or agent
of every vessel is required to present a correct manifest before
landing any goods, under a penalty of forfeiting one-fourth of
the goods otherwise landed; and secondly, that all boats and seamen
are required to return tot heir ships at nine o’clock pm
when the first gun is fired from the fort. A penalty of $2 is enforced
upon every seaman seized on shore after this hour.

The Quarantine laws are very stringent, the penalty of death being
provided for any willful violation of them, whereby a contagious
disease is communicated to the shore. For any minor breach of these
laws, the penalty is a fine of $1000, and for refusing obedience
to the health officer on any matter connected with them, the penalty
is a fine of $500. The following penalties are also enforced: $10
on any ship throwing rubbish into the harbour, for the first offence;
$20 for the second and then the fine is doubled for every repetition
of the same offence. $400 for taking on board any native without
the written permission of the Governor, $400 for taking away any
prisoner, and the latter to be returned. $60 on any captain who
leaves on shore any of his men, without leave in writing from the
Governor. $200 on any captain of a vessel touching for repair or
refreshments, who does not first render in writing a clear and
explicit account of what he intends to purchase and how and in
what articles he is to pay for the same. $100 in every vessel which
leaves the port without a certificate of clearance. $10 for coming
on shore with a knife, sword-cane or any other dangerous weapon.
$10 on every person who aids, secretes, or entertains a seaman
on shore, after that hour; and the same fine on every person who,
by force, opposes the police in their search for such seaman. $1
to $5 for hallooing or making a noise in the streets at night.
$6 for striking another in a quarrel. $5 for racing or swift riding
in the streets or frequented roads. Fines are likewise imposed
for drunkenness, desecration of the Sabbath and every other species
of immoral conduct in proportion to the nature of the offence,
and the frequency of its repetition on the part of the offender.

REVENUE—The net revenue of the kingdom, in 1842, was about
$35,000; in 1843, it was $50,000; and under wise laws to promote
agriculture and population is is susceptible of great and rapid
increase. The public debt does not exceed $30,000; the interest
upon the whole averages about 12% and is regularly paid. 10% of
the rents for lands are appropriated for the redemption of the
debt. The whole public expenditure is under $45,000; but some of
the salaries require to be much increased, and the government desires
to establish a regular mail communication with Europe and America,
via San Blas, which will demand a considerably yearly outlay. The
accounts of the treasury, since that department was placed under
the superintendence of Dr Judd, have been kept by double entry,
in the native language, by native clerks, with great clearness
and regularity.

CURRENCY—The coins most current are the Spanish or Spanish
American, namely; dollars, half-dollars, quarter-dollars, rials
and half-rials; but the undermentioned foreign coins are also taken
in payment:

Gold

Silver

Dls.

Cts.

Dls.

Cts.

Doubloon at

16

0

Shilling at

0

25

Eagle at

10

0

Francs 5 at

1

0

Guinea at

4

50

Rix dollars of Hamb.

1

0

Sovereign at

4

50

Ruble at

0

75

Napoleon at

4

0

Rupee at

0

50

Ducat of

Rix dollar of Denmark

1

0

Holland at

2

0

Rix dollar of Holland

1

0

Other foreign coins will also be received, and the value relatively
to the dollar determined by weight. The amount of money in actual
circulation in Honolulu, is thought not to amount to 50,000 dollars;
but it is believed as much more exists, in deposit, to be used
for speculative purposes, when suitable occasions offer. The amount
of bills yearly negotiated for supplies to whalers and ships of
war is variously estimated at from 137,000 to 200,000 dollars;
and the rates of exchange are extremely high. The rates of 4s.
10d. on Navy bills on London, and of 120 for 100 dollars, on New
York and Paris, are not unusual. The legal interest for money is
one per cent. Per annum.

COMMERCE—The commerce of the Port of Honolulu for the year
1843 was as follows:

Value of goods

Amount of

Vessels

consumed ($.c.)

duties paid ($.c.)

25 American

109,297.88

3,520.93

9 British

37,849.08

1,164.32

4 French

2,931.60

148.58

1 Spanish

4,559.89

136.80

1 German

2,026.76

60.80

Received from sundry ships for transit duties

239.31

Total

156,665.21

5,270.74

As all whalers are allowed to sell goods to the amount of $200
each, without paying any duty whatever, it is thought that $15,000
may be fairly added for goods introduced under that privilege,
bring the yearly consumption of goods in Honolulu to $171,565.

Sugar 1,145,010 lbs at 4 cents

$45,800

Molasses, 64,320 gallons at 2 cents

12,864

Kukui oil, 8,620 gallons at 40 cents

3,448

Bullock hides, 10,686 at 2 dollars each

21,372

Goat skins, 29,800 at 18 cents each

5,364

Arrowroot, 35,140 lbs at 4 cents per lb

1,405

Mustard seed, 39,700 lbs, at 2 ½ cents per lb

992

Total value of exports

$91,245

SHIPPING—The number of whaling and merchant vessels arriving
at the port of Honolulu, in each year during the last 20 years
was:--

Year

No. of arrivals

1824

96

1825

56

1826

145

1827

106

1828

151

1829

144

1830

133

1831

118

1832

155

1833

135

1834

142

1835

108

1836

112

1837

99

1838

99

1839

44

1840

78

1841

92

1842

125

1843

166

Of these arrivals about three-fourths had been vessels employed
in the South Sea Whale Fisheries, which came to the islands for
refreshments; and of these whaling vessels nearly fourt-fifths
were American. The great difference which appears in the number
of arrivals of various years appears to be mainly attributable
to the falling off in the number of whalers, in consequence of
the fishery having ceased of late years to be so productive as
it formerly was. The arrival of trading vessels have been pretty
uniform; but these, like the whalers, appear to have been principally
under the American flag. Till of late years the Sandwich Islands
have been rarely visited by ships of war; the number of these
vessels visiting the islands between the years 1825 and 1840
having seldom exceeded one or two in each year; but in 1840 there
were five arrivals, consisting of a French ship, and the four
vessels forming the exploring squadron of the United States under
Commodore Wilks. In 1841 there were eleven arrivals, consisting
of ten Americans and one British. In 1842 there were two arrivals,
one French and one American. And in 1843 there were nine arrivals,
viz five British and four Americans.

HARBOUR DUES—The following are the harbour dues payable at
the Port of Honolulu, viz:--20 cents per ton on merchant vessels;
6 cents per ton, on whale ships and merchants vessels entering
for the purpose of obtaining refreshments only; $2 for the use
of the buoys; $1 for certificate of clearance; $1 per foot pilotage
for taking a vessel in or out. No harbour dues are exacted of a
vessel having a Hawaiian register, or of a vessel belonging to
a resident foreigner who has taken the oath of allegiance. A vessel
owned bo a foreigner who has n ot taken the oath of allegiance,
but who resides permanently on shore, in the occupation of a dwelling-house
or shop, pays only one-half of the usual dues.

DUTIES—The only import duty is three per cent ad valorem
which is levied upon all goods indiscriminately; but goods are
allowed to be transshipped or re-exported on payment of a duty
of one half per cent ad valorem, or where the duty has been previously
paid, a drawback of two and a half per cent is allowed. There is
no export duty on any of the productions of the islands, and the
duty formerly levied upon the exportation of gold and silver was
abolished as injurious to commerce, by a law passed for that purpose
on the 28th April 1843.

RELIGION AND EDUCATION—It is by the zeal and exertions of
the Protestant missionaries that the Sandwich Islands have been
redeemed from heathenism, and raised to a level among the civilized
nations of the earth. On the 1st April 1843 there were in all 23
churches having 23,804 regular or standing members; and nearly
one half of the present adult population have been taught to read
in the schools which the missionaries have established. Copies
of the Scriptures and various religious works, both in the English
and Hawaiian languages, are printed for sale and gratuitous distribution,
the circulation of which has naturally a tendency to produce much
good. There are about 20,000 children at present in the various
minor schools throughout the islands, where reading, writing, geography
and the simpler rules of arithmetic are taught. The missionaries
have also established male and female seminaries, where the higher
branches of education are taught; and there are three boarding
schools---one at Honolulu for the young chiefs, and two others
at Hawaii, one for males, having about 60 scholers, and the other
for females, having about 25 scholars. The principal agents of
all these improvements, as well as of the improvement in the commerce
of the islands, have been the Americans.

NEWSPAPERS—There are 2 journals established here—the Polynesian,
and the Friend of Temperance and Seamen. The latter of these is conducted
under the auspices of the Rev. Samuel C Damon, Seamen’s Chaplain;
and it is from various numbers of this journal that the above statistics
have been compiled.

Volume 1, Number 29 -5 October, 1844

THE “JUNO”, WHALER, charge of insubordination,
revolt and conspiracy

The Police Court was employed for about five hours on Saturday
last, investigating a charge of insubordination, revolt, and conspiracy,
preferred by Captain Hayes of the whaling barque Juno, against
eleven of the crew of the said vessel. Mr John Dillon, who conducted
the case for the prosecution, commenced the proceedings by an address
to the Bench, in which he pointed out the necessity of protecting
ship-owners and the officers in command of vessels belonging to
this port, from having their interests sacrificed by the unlawful
conduct of the men on board their vessels at sea, particularly
those engaged in the whaling trade. He then gave an outline of
the charge against the men before the Court, which, as it came
out in the evidence, was as follows:-- In the early part of the
year, the barque Juno, Captain Hayes, sailed from Sydney on a whaling
voyage having on board a crew of upwards of thirty men. On the
6th ultimo, when within a few days’ sail of Twofold Bay,
one of the prisoners, named Morris, was washing the decks about
seven o’clock in the morning, and when the Captain appeared
on deck, commenced grumbling very loudly about having to wash the
deck at that time; on which the Captain spoke to him on the impropriety
of using such language, when Morris became very insolent, on which
he was ordered to go forward and scrape the top-gallant forecastle,
as a punishment for his insolence; but instead of doing as ordered,
he went below and refused to come up when the Chief Officer called
him.

The Captain and Chief Mate then went below to compel him to come
up and go to his work, when Morris seized a broad axe and threatened
to use it against them if either the one or the other of them endeavoured
to lay hands on him; and at the same instant, all the other prisoners
began abetting him, and stating their determination to resist his
being interfered with in any way; and one of them, a man of colour,
threatened with his clenched fist, to strike the first who laid
hands on Morris. The whole of them were then ordered on deck to
assist in getting the vessel put in order, as there was a great
deal to do to her, in consequence of her having been subjected
to several days’ bad weather before the row with Morris began;
but all of them peremptorily refused to do anything whatever to
assist the rest of the crew in working the vessel. In consequence
of this determination they were confined below, and orders given
for no more rations to be given to them, except bread and water,
till they returned to their duty; but they persisted in demanding
rations, at the same time refusing to work; and carried their insubordination
so far, that the Captain was under the necessity of allowing them
to be on deck during the day time.

The Chief Officer was also directed to inform them, that if they
would return to duty all would be forgiven; but they persisted
in refusing to do any duty, assigning as a reason that their rations
were not served out to them; the Chief Officer then told them that
the instant they resumed their duty their rations would be given
them, and a quantity was even served out, and they were ordered
to hand along some water; but after getting the rations, they again
declined to work.

Under these circumstances, Captain Hayes felt himself necessitated
to bear up for the nearest port, Twofold Bay, where the agent of
Mr Boyd, the owner, went on board and gave them the alternative
of leaving the vessel there, or being brought on to Sydney as prisoners,
on board the Juno, to have the matter investigated. They preferred
coming to Sydney, and as there were neither arms nor irons on board,
they were secured and kept in irons by the agent’s order
until the vessel left the bay, the irons were however taken off
within 24 hours of the vessel getting under sail; and on her arrival
in Sydney, they were handed over to the police. Mr Brenan, who
appeared for the prisoners, before the case was called on, applied
to have the prisoners admitted to bail, and to have it postponed
till Monday; but the Court considered the charge as one of too
serious a nature to allow any of the prisoners bail, until it was
investigated.

The defence set up by the cross-examination of the Captain and
the Chief Officers, the only witnesses examined, was that while
the vessel was at New Zealand, one of the crew, a Frenchman, had
been subjected to corporal punishment; but, in explanation, it
was sworn that the cause of his being punished was getting drunk
and embezzling the ship’s stores; another defence set up
was, that of being overworked; but it was sworn that merely the
work necessary to be done had been directed to be done, in consideration
of the fatigue the men were subjected to in the boats in searching
the bays for whales. The only other defence set up was, that bad
provisions had been served out; but the Captain and Mate both swore
that when these were complained of, others, without limitation,
were served out instead of what had been damaged.

Mr Dillon having stated that, in his opinion he had adduced sufficient
evidence to authorize the Bench in committing the prisoners; when
the Bench enquired whether he had any evidence to prove that the
prisoners had endeavoured to solicit any of the other men on board
to join them, so as to make out the charge of conspiracy. Mr Dillon,
in reply, stated that he had; but he thought that the case for
committal was so clear, that he did not deem it necessary to bring
the witnesses forward; but if the Bench deemed it requisite, he
would have evidence to prove that part of the charge to the satisfaction
of the Bench. The Bench deemed it necessary that evidence of the
conspiracy should be adduced. Mr Windeyer enquired of Mr Brenan
whether he claimed to be heard for the prisoners, as a matter of
right, or as a favour. Mr Brenan replied, that he wished to be
heard, in order to save the time of the Court; as, although he
could only be heard by sufferance, yet each of the prisoners had
a right to be heard, which the Bench could not deprive them of.

Mr Windeyer admitted the truth of Mr Brenan’s statement;
but reminded him that it was the practice of the Bench, when a
prima facia case for committal was made out before it, to inform
prisoners and their advocates, that they might reserve what they
had to say until they appeared before another Court, which generally
saved more time than hearing a single advocate. The Bench then
ordered the prisoners to be remanded till Tuesday. Mr Brenan applied
to have the prisoners admitted to bail; but the Bench refused the
application, on the ground that the charges of which evidence had
already been given, and that of which evidence was promised to
be adduced on Tuesday, if substantiated would probably be followed
by consequences of a much more serious nature than the prisoners
contemplated. They were then remanded in custody of the police.

The case was closed on Tuesday, by the examination of the third
mate and three of the crew, in order to prove that the prisoners
had advised others of the crew to give up working until they, the
prisoners were released. After the case was closed; Mr Dillon stated
that Mr Robinson, for Mr Boyd, had instructed him to apply to have
the case summarily disposed of, as if this was possible, Mr Boyd
did not wish to press the case further against the prisoners than
what was necessary for demonstrating to seamen the state of the
law, and to give warning to others that if they ventured to act
as the prisoners had done, that the law was stringent enough to
punish them for it; what had weighed most with his client in bringing
the case before the Court to the extent he had done, was the necessity
of affording protection to the commercial interests of the port.
By the disobedient and disorderly conduct of the prisoners, the
owners of the Juno had already been subjected to a loss of upwards
of £1500, and if the case was much longer delayed that loss
would be greatly augmented, as it was necessary if the case was
to go before the Supreme Court, that the depositions should be
forwarded with as little delay as possible to the Attorney General,
otherwise a delay of three months would be caused by the case standing
over till January criminal sessions.

Mr Windeyer did not consider that the Bench had any power to deal
summarily with a felony, which was the charge against the prisoners.
It was one of those offences until the late mitigation of the law
subjected offenders to the punishment of death and now if convicted
they would be punished by transportation or imprisonment. As the
case stood at present, the Court would adjourn till Wednesday,
in order to hear Mr Brenan for the prisoners, on the subject of
bail, for as at present advised, the Court might be of opinion
that there were such differences of guilt against the prisoners
that to some bail might be allowed but refused to others. As to
delay, it was not likely to take place, because for anything yet
shown before the Court, the whole of the depositions might in 24
hours be in the hands of the Attorney General who would have ample
time to get the case brought on for trial before the Criminal Court
which sits next week. The prisoners were then remanded till Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Mr Brenan appeared on behalf of the prisoners, and
in an address, which lasted about an hour and a half, contended
that no charge of revolt had been made out against them; that the
utmost of the charge was that they had been guilty of insubordination,
and that only by allowing that they had disobeyed the lawful commands
of the captain, who he contended, had not exercised due caution,
nor displayed such prudence as a captain of a vessel, situated
as he was, ought to have exhibited. There was nothing in the evidence
which showed that the prisoners contemplated piracy, which was
the amount of the charge against them. In order to show the law
of the case, Mr Brenan cited largely from Tomlin’s Law Dictionary,
Abbott on Shipping and the sixth volume of Carrington and Payne’s
Reports, and submitted that the proper mode of punishing them was
by mulcting them of their wages; moreover, he offered to stake
his existence that if they were committed no conviction would take
place. The Court did not consider it necessary to hear Mr Dillon
in reply and committed all the prisoners to take their trial for
endeavouring to excite a revolt on the high seas. The names of
the prisoners are George Scott, Richard Morris, James Campbell,
Henry Moore, and Benjamin Wilson. The following were also committed,
but allowed bail, each in £80, with sureties £40:--James
Smith, Henry Watt, Charles Crawford, Thomas Neilson and Timothy
Cole.

The Proteus left Sydney 15th August 1842, and met with good success
until the 17th Feb last, when she put into Cyrus Harbour, in
the Island of Roto, with 1060 barrels of sperm oil on board.
After taking in wood and water, she left again 6th March all
well; but two days after, sickness made its appearance, supposed
to have been caused from the heat of the sun whilst going forward
and back to the ship. Two of the crew named John Ramsden and
Roberts, first fell victims to the disorder, having died in a
few days. On the 15th March, Thomas Francisca, a native of Manila,
also expired and on the 18th, Thomas West a New Zealander. March
20th, Captain Christal, Mr T Wilson, chief officer, Mr T Smith,
second officer and eight of the crew were taken sick and confined
to their berths. March 25th having stood for the harbour of Bangowangie
to obtain medical assistance, the vessel came to an anchor and
the captain and chief officer were taken on shore; the second
mate died about 9.20pm the same day. They remained in this port
about a month, during which Capt Christal, Mr Wilson, James Rolings,
boatsteerer, John Hooper, carpenter and Charles Goodman, a seaman,
all died, and were interred. The charge of the ship now devolved
on Mr Maloney, the third officer, and being quite out of medicine
and provisions, he took her on to Sourabayia, where she refitted,
and 380 barrels of oil were afterwards landed to defray the expenses.
As Mr Maloney was the only navigator on board, the Dutch Government
and the agents of the Insurance Office appointed Capt Gale to
the command of her, who was the chief officer of the Nereiad,
lying at Batavia. Previous to their touching at Roto, a seaman
called John Ramsden, and a New Zealander, died with the small
pox. During the whole time the Proteus has been at sea, she has
not spoken a single Sydney whaler. She left Sourabayia on the
29th June, called off Anjer and obtained some refreshments but
did not hear of any vessels passing there.

LOSS OF THE BARQUE ‘MAGNET’—The following is
an extract from a letter received by the owners of the barque Magnet,
from Mr J J Curtis, the supercargo:--“The loss of the Magnet happened on Tuesday morning, 3rd September, about three o’clock,
on the coast south side of Banks Peninsula, near Cerackia in a
sudden S.E. gale. We went on to a reef of rocks, and by daylight
she was all to pieces; one seaman named Davis, was drowned, the
rest, including Mr John Jones, all got ashore in safety. Had it
not been for the kind assistance of Mr Cria, at the nearest whaling
station, who at daylight on the top of his look-out-hill observed
the wreck, and immediately came down and got hold of the poor fellows
in the surf, many would have perished. As we jumped out of bed
we came ashore, losing everything in the world.”